Going, going, gone ??

NEARING THE END OF AN INTERESTING SEASON
I've just added a number of recent reports to the monitoring results  spreadsheet, and it looks like we've had another mixed bag of results. Indications from sites like the well-observed Saint Adolphe area suggest some nest failure, while other areas (La Broquerie, St Johns Ravenscourt and some Portage Avenue sites come to mind) suggest "business at usual." Numbers from our venerable roost sites seem to be down from past years.

We'll take another look at the 2012 results when more of your reports come in.


Updated monitoring results may be seen at http://bit.ly/MABro1

We've certainly lost a few volunteers this year, but we have been able to get some data points from all sites that were active last year. We've even identified some "new" sites and received casual reports that point to other chimneys to check.

KEEP LOOKING UP!
Reports recently received indicate that swifts have migrated from a number of sites-- St. Adolphe, Carman, some Winnipeg sites like St Johns Ravenscourt and the Silver Heights/Moorgate area. Now would be a good time to check your sites to see if your swifts have "flown the coop." As they say on the Internet "YMMV"- your mileage may vary...

Don't forget to pass along your monitoring reports!  Thank you.

STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
We'll be having a meeting  on September 10 to discuss this year's results and plan for the future of the program. If you have any suggestions regarding the Chimney Swift Initiative, please let me know!



Frank M

Feelin' hot hot hot

Well, August is upon us and there seem to be more than a few new swifts in the air.

Recent monitoring reports are a mixed bag. Some formerly-active Winnipeg sites have seen little or no roost hour activity in 2012, yet reports from other locations seem to indicate successful breeding and "normal" numbers. Once I get more reports, I'll post a proper update.

After a hot tip from a birder, Jacquie and I took a spin out to Clearwater and found two active sites-- one at the former Clearwater School and the other at the adjacent Menorial Hall.

The summary of monitoring results is at
http://bit.ly/MABro1


For your reading pleasure

Click the link to view a recent article from the Ottawa Citizen about the Onatrio chimney swift program.
Click the link to view the July 20 Bird Studies Canada newsletter with two articles about swift programs. Look in the "Regional" news area,

Things are looking up!
If you see any chimney swifts as you take a summer stroll or road trip. please send a note tot mbchimneyswift@gmail.com. You might be helping us to find a new roost or nest site!

What's it all about, Alfie?

The latter question was posed in the theme song to a popular 1966 Michael Caine flick, but it seems to apply to many of the monitoring reports we're getting these days.

Let's start this note with a THANK YOU to the volunteers who recently submitted observation reports from around the province.

As is often the case, there's good news and less-than-good news...

On the positive side, we continue to receive reports of swift activity at nest or roost sites in various Manitoba locations-- Saint Adolphe, Selkirk, Dauphin, Carman, La Broquerie, Lorette, Portage, Winnipeg, Brandon. We've even found some activity at hitherto-unreported sites, and had a report of a successful (not to mention noisy) nest in a Westwood chimney. We also have a new artificial nest structure of a unique design-- all we need are chimney swift guests! We have a few casual reports of daytime sightings that don't obviously correlate to known nest/roost sites...

On the other hand, several formerly active (mostly Winnipeg) sites are showing little or no activity. Roost sites in Selkirk and Dauphin seem to have reduced numbers, and the well-observed sites in St. Adolphe show signs of nest failure and "missing" birds.

We don't have enough reports to draw definitive conclusions, but it seems like we may be having yet another season of unusual swift activity.

You can take a look at the multi-year monitoring summary at
http://bit.ly/MABro1

VOLUNTEERS and SIGHTING REPORTS are always welcome. We could  use additional help in checking sites during daytime or roost hours. If you've got the time, we've got the chimney!

OUT AND ABOUT:  The Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative is planning to have displays at two upcoming events: the Saint Adolphe Mudfest and the 23rd North American Prairie Conference at the University of Manitoba.

Frank Machovec

Happy Canada Day!

CHIMNEY SWIFTS IN THE NEWS
Last week provincial Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh announed the development of a new strategy to better protect species at risk that will include new funding for population recovery projects and developing new habitat protection legislation.

Part of this startegy is the declaration of the chimney swifts as an endangered species in Manitoba.

For more information, check the press release at

http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/press/top/2012/06/2012-06-25-143500-14694.html

You might also want to check the Species At Risk page at http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/wildlife/sar/

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP -- MONITORING NEWS
Two "new" active sites have been found and monitored. There are a pair of swifts in the chimney at the Lorette Catholic Church, and three chimneys at Otterburne's Providence College are being shared by at least seven swifts.

Monitoring reports recently received confirm strong bird counts at Selkirk, Dauphin, and Saint Adolphe sites.

Take a look at http://bit.ly/MABro1 for the current monitoring summary.

Don't forget to send me your monitoring reports, and be on the lookout for "new additions" at your sites!


AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT - A SWIFT VIDEO




The clip was extracted from a 13 minute recording of a monitoring session at the Dauphin roost site (courtesy K. Wainwright).

How many swifts do you see?


VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED
We could still use volunteers to verify activity at several sites. If you'd like to help, please contact Frank at 204-798-6275 or send a note to mbchimneyswift@gmail.com

Thanks to our volunteers for taking the time to report the activities of our avian visitors!

Frank M